Went to DC yesterday...

Spent the day in Washington yesterday....
Reminded me of how shocking and overwhelming it is that victims of Katrina are still without..

We need to continue to help...here's Family-to-Family's program..it's still up and running..we need everyone out there to forward this blog to everyone you know.
We've helped thousands of families this way..and there are many waiting.




"THE HOME ESSENTIALS PROJECT"

Join us and sponsor a family devastated by Hurricane Katrina/Rita. Help your sponsored family rebuild their lives by sending clothing, blankets, personal care items — a coffee pot, a tea pot — things to make home a home again.
From our family to your family
The challenge for Hurricane Katrina families to re-build their lives remains enormous. They may have been moved to a new apartment in a new city, sometimes far away from their family, friends, jobs, churches and communities. While sometimes helped with a place to live, they remain in desperate need of the basic essentials that will help to make their new house a home: clothing, cold weather clothing, sheets, towels, pillows and blankets, over the counter medications, eyeglasses . . . everything! The list is long, but here's what your family can do to help! Sponsor a Hurricane Katrina victim's family, helping them as they now turn towards their new life.
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS To get started, complete this form and we will contact you with information about your sponsored family. Family-to-Family still has extensive lists of families in need from government agencies, shelters and social service agencies working throughout the Gulf region.
We will match your family with a family in need and we are hoping that your family will commit to helping for 3-6 months.
As a volunteer family you will receive the name and address of the family you are sponsoring and we are asking you to do the following:
Confirm with Family-to-Family/Katrina that you will in fact help the family you were assigned (do this by replying to the e-mail with your family’s name)
Call your family, if a phone number was provided, to confirm address (many families are still being moved to different locations)
Read the questions from the questionnaire (below) or e-mail the questionnaire to your family with a self addressed stamped envelope addressed to you.
Many sponsor families tell us that calling their survivor families and letting the conversation flow naturally to determine their needs has been a wonderful way to begin this relationship.If you are not comfortable sharing your home address consider a p.o. box for return mail from your sponsored family.
You will be responsible for the shipping/posting of the items you are sending.
Download QuestionnaireDownload letter
HOW TO MINIMIZE COSTS We do not expect the sponsor to be able to provide the families with everything on their list. Each sponsor should only send as much as they feel comfortable with. Below is a list of cost saving ideas for sponsors and if you have any more ideas please email them to us so we can add them to our list.
SHARE THE SPONSORSHIP Instead of trying to help your family alone ask friends and organizations to help. Here is a list of groups you might want to ask:
Extended family
Places of Worship
Playgroup
Boy or Girl Scout troops
Neighbors
Sports teams
Clubs/Organizations
Workplace
GOODS
DO NOT SEND CASH. If you'd like, send a Visa/Master Card gift card, a gas gift card, or as you receive information from your family, a gift card to a local Wal-Mart, Kmart etc.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND USED ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
Please send either new or Very Gently Used items. Do remember that your sponsored family's personal dignity has been compromised so profoundly.
Shop at discount stores, especially when items are on sale
Download our general information letter and approach local merchants for donations of in-kind goods
Shop online at stores that offer discounted shipping for larger orders
SHIPPING
Use ground services for UPS, Fed Ex, USPS
Ask local UPS, Mail Boxes, Etc. store for discounted shipping
Shopping online eliminates your travel to and from shipping stores
As your family settles in try and keep communications flowing, helping them think through what they might need in the coming months. Remember, the trauma will be with these families for quite a long time.
Please note: Families in the Gulf area are still in transition and though they contact us when they are in housing some families do move multiple times. If you do not hear from your family within 3 weeks please contact us and we will assign another family to you.
Family-to-Family is working with several government agencies in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. These authorities are providing us with names of families who have sought their assistance. Additionally, as word has spread among the community of evacuees, evacuees themselves are registering with Family-to-Family. Because of the exigent circumstances surrounding this disaster, the in-depth screening that is customarily performed to determine eligibility for aid is not being performed. We are acting on good faith that all names provided to us represent families who do require the type of support we offer. In the event Family-to-Family learns of any malfeasance or fraud, we will provide sending families with this information and will assist them so that they can sponsor another family truly in need.